§ 30. Mr. Lubbockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation enabling him to pay a special allowance to the severely disabled who live at home in respect of telephones used by them and of any special mechanisms supplied by the Post Office to enable the disabled to use the telephone.
§ Mr. EnnalsWhere a telephone is an essential need for a person receiving supplementary benefits, whose resources are otherwise insufficient, the Supplementary Benefits Commission may use its general discretionary powers to provide additional benefit for the purpose; and local welfare authorities have powers which enable them to assist in the provision of telephones for people who are substantially and permanently handicapped.
§ Mr. LubbockThe problem which I had in mind is that of the person not receiving supplementary benefit, and particularly the disabled wife who has not paid contributions into the National Insurance Scheme and, therefore, is not eligible. Will the hon. Gentleman give 916 urgent attention to the problem with a view to helping these people?
§ Mr. EnnalsI shall look into the question of whether any more can be done, but it is difficult to see how it could be done through the Supplementary Benefits Commission, which is concerned with people with a certain minimum income.